Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), arrived in Hanoi Monday afternoon for an official goodwill visit at the invitation of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Vietnam Fatherland Front(VFF).

Jia, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), was greeted at the hotel by Nguyen Van Son, chairman of the Commission for External Relations of the CPV and VFF Vice Chairman Huynh Dam. Chinese ambassador to Vietnam Hu Qianwen and some senior officials of the CPV and the VFF greeted Jia at the airport.

In a written statement issued at the airport, Jia said China and Vietnam are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers. The people of the two countries share a long tradition of friendship. He said he witnessed the vigor of Vietnam's reform drive and felt the friendly sentiments of the Vietnamese people for the Chinese people as soon as he stepped upon this land.

Jia said over the past few years, China-Vietnam relations have made continuous progress under the guidelines of long-term stability, being oriented towards the future, friendship and good-neighborliness and all-round cooperation. He noted that the leaders of the two countries have maintained frequent contact, while trade and economic cooperation has born rich fruits. The two sides have continuously deepened exchanges of experience in building political parties and governing the country, as well as advanced friendly exchanges and cooperation in all fields.

Jia said he is looking forward to exchanging views with Vietnamese leaders on the relations between the CPC and the CPV and between the two countries, as well as other issues of common concern.

Jia said through the visit, he will gain comprehensive knowledge of the new achievements Vietnam has made in socialist construction and reform. He expressed the wish that this visit would help deepen mutual understanding, enhance friendship and mutual trust, advance mutually beneficial cooperation and push forward the development of the friendly, good-neighborly China-Vietnam relationship of all-round cooperation.

Jia's Vietnam visit is slated for March 20 through 24. Besides Hanoi, he will also visit Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.